MINUTES OF THE CITY OF GRANDE PRAIRIE

COUNCIL MEETING

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VIRTUAL MEETING
PRESENT
  • J. Clayton, Mayor
  • E. Friesen, Councillor
  • K. O’Toole, Councillor
  • W. Pilat, Councillor
  • D. Bressey, Councillor
  • C. Thiessen, Councillor
  • C. Blackburn, Councillor
ABSENT
  • Y. Minhas, Councillor
ALSO PRESENT
  • H. Galanti, City Manager
  • S. Bourke, Corporate Services Director
  • B. Glavin, Infrastructure & Economic Development Director
  • A. Miller, Community Services Director
  • C. Manuel, Protective & Social Services Director
  • A. Karbashewski, City Clerk

The Mayor called the meeting to order at 3:07 p.m.

  • MOVED byK. O’Toole

    Council adopt the minutes of the City Council meeting held Monday, March 8, 2021, as presented.

    For: (7)D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, E. Friesen, W. Pilat, C. Blackburn, C. Thiessen, and K. O’Toole
    Absent (1)Y. Minhas
    CARRIED (7 to 0)
  • MOVED byC. Thiessen

    Council adopt the Agenda with the addition of Item 6.2 - Council Member Appointments.

    For: (7)D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, E. Friesen, W. Pilat, C. Blackburn, C. Thiessen, and K. O’Toole
    Absent (1)Y. Minhas
    CARRIED (7 to 0)

Renee Charbonneau, representative of Veterans Memorial Gardens & Interpretive Centre, and Corrine Patterson, representative of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Grande Prairie, were present to request that Council proclaim July 24, 2021 as the City of Grande Prairie's Makeup Christmas Day and approve a parade. 

Renee Charbonneau, representative of Veterans Memorial Gardens & Interpretive Centre, was present to provide Council with an update on their museum status and upcoming activities taking place at the Veterans' Memorial Gardens & Interpretive Centre located in the Hillside neighbourhood. 

Ken Drysdale and Rhonda Side, representatives of Maskwa Medical Centre Canada, were present to request a letter of support and contribution to the cost of creating a business plan for a Mayo Clinic model of patient centered diagnostics.

R. Leigh, Economic Development Manager, presented Council with amendments to Policy 318 - Economic Recovery Program. The proposed amendments will create a Training Grant to support businesses in training existing employees. 

  • MOVED byW. Pilat

    Council approve: 1. Policy 318 - Economic Recovery Program, as amended; and 2. The allocation of  $100,000.00 from the Economic Recovery Capital budget for the Training Grant.

    For: (7)D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, E. Friesen, W. Pilat, C. Blackburn, C. Thiessen, and K. O’Toole
    Absent (1)Y. Minhas
    CARRIED (7 to 0)
  • MOVED byC. Blackburn

    Council appoint Councillor Pilat as Chair of the Community Services Committee, Councillor O'Toole as Chair of the Protective & Social Services Committee and Councillor Bressey as Council alternate on Grande Spirit Foundation.

    For: (7)D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, E. Friesen, W. Pilat, C. Blackburn, C. Thiessen, and K. O’Toole
    Absent (1)Y. Minhas
    CARRIED (7 to 0)
  • MOVED byK. O’Toole

    Council adopt the minutes of the Corporate Services Committee meeting held Tuesday, March 16, 2021, as presented.

    For: (7)D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, E. Friesen, W. Pilat, C. Blackburn, C. Thiessen, and K. O’Toole
    Absent (1)Y. Minhas
    CARRIED (7 to 0)

Councillor O'Toole provided highlights from this meeting.

  • MOVED byW. Pilat

    Council adopt the minutes of the Community Services Committee meeting held Tuesday, March 16, 2021, as presented.

    For: (7)D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, E. Friesen, W. Pilat, C. Blackburn, C. Thiessen, and K. O’Toole
    Absent (1)Y. Minhas
    CARRIED (7 to 0)
  • MOVED byD. Bressey

    Council direct Administration to amend the funding agreement between the City and Bear Creek Folk Festival to allow the Festival to use the previously allocated Large-Scale Tourism funding for the 2022 event. 

    For: (7)D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, E. Friesen, W. Pilat, C. Blackburn, C. Thiessen, and K. O’Toole
    Absent (1)Y. Minhas
    CARRIED (7 to 0)
  • MOVED byD. Bressey

    Council: 1. Approve the revisions to Policy 210, being the Revolution Place Operating Mandate; 2. Approve Policy 211, being the Revolution Place Alcohol Management Policy; 3. Accept Procedure 211-1 for information; and 4. Repeal Policy 5335, being the Crystal Centre Alcohol Management Policy.

    For: (7)D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, E. Friesen, W. Pilat, C. Blackburn, C. Thiessen, and K. O’Toole
    Absent (1)Y. Minhas
    CARRIED (7 to 0)

Councillor Bressey provided highlights from this meeting.

  • MOVED byW. Pilat

    Council adopt the minutes of the Protective and Social Services Committee meeting held Tuesday, March 16, 2021, as presented.

    For: (7)D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, E. Friesen, W. Pilat, C. Blackburn, C. Thiessen, and K. O’Toole
    Absent (1)Y. Minhas
    CARRIED (7 to 0)
  • E. Friesen declared a conflict on this item. (Declared a conflict of interest due to personal gain.)
  • MOVED byW. Pilat

    Council adopt the 2021-2022 Affordable Housing Action Plan as presented.

    For: (6)D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, W. Pilat, C. Blackburn, C. Thiessen, and K. O’Toole
    Absent (2)E. Friesen, and Y. Minhas
    CARRIED (6 to 0)
  • Amendment:
    MOVED byD. Bressey

    Council strike Action Item 4 from the plan.

    For: (3)D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, and W. Pilat
    Opposed: (3)C. Blackburn, C. Thiessen, and K. O’Toole
    Absent (2)E. Friesen, and Y. Minhas
    DEFEATED (3 to 3)

Councillor Pilat provided highlights from this meeting.

  • MOVED byD. Bressey

    Council adopt the minutes of the Infrastructure and Economic Development Committee meeting held Tuesday, March 16, 2021, as presented.

    For: (7)D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, E. Friesen, W. Pilat, C. Blackburn, C. Thiessen, and K. O’Toole
    Absent (1)Y. Minhas
    CARRIED (7 to 0)

Councillor Bressey provided highlights from this meeting. 

  • MOVED byD. Bressey

    Council refer this delegation request to the Mayor.

    For: (7)D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, E. Friesen, W. Pilat, C. Blackburn, C. Thiessen, and K. O’Toole
    Absent (1)Y. Minhas
    CARRIED (7 to 0)
  • MOVED byC. Thiessen

    Council refer the matter of community safety to the appropriate Standing Committee for discussion.

    For: (7)D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, E. Friesen, W. Pilat, C. Blackburn, C. Thiessen, and K. O’Toole
    Absent (1)Y. Minhas
    CARRIED (7 to 0)
  • MOVED byE. Friesen

    Council direct the Mayor to write a letter in support of the development of a Mayo Clinic model of patient centered diagnostics.

    For: (7)D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, E. Friesen, W. Pilat, C. Blackburn, C. Thiessen, and K. O’Toole
    Absent (1)Y. Minhas
    CARRIED (7 to 0)
  • MOVED byE. Friesen

    Council refer to a special meeting of the Economic Development Committee for the consideration of funding in the amount of $50,000.00 to support the business planning needs of Maskwa Medical Centre (Canada) Inc. for the development of a Mayo Clinic model of patient-centred diagnostics. 

    For: (7)D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, E. Friesen, W. Pilat, C. Blackburn, C. Thiessen, and K. O’Toole
    Absent (1)Y. Minhas
    CARRIED (7 to 0)

11.

The meeting recessed from 5:25 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Derek Stokke, resident of the Grande Prairie region, was present to request that Council declare that every April 7 going forward as "Green Shirt Day" in support of Organ Donor Awareness. An average of 250 individuals per year who require organ donation to survive succumb to their health issues because organs are not available for donation.

The Public Hearing was called to order at 6:17 p.m.

D. Whelton, Senior Planner, presented Council with the proposed Avondale High School Sites Area Redevelopment Plan. The plan explores opportunities for future uses of the area including a short-term land use concept that adds new sports fields, pickleball courts and walking trails. The plan also provides for a medium-term land use concept incorporating a future recreation facility and a proposed long-term concept that proposes possible multi-family and commercial facilities.

John Lehners, representative of the Grande Prairie Public School District, was present to speak in favour of the proposed redevelopment plan. 

Ray Sylvester, resident, was unable to attend but provided his notes to Council for consideration. 

The Public Hearing was closed at 6:55 p.m.

  • MOVED byW. Pilat

    Council give first reading to Bylaw C-1407, being the Avondale High School Sites Area Redevelopment Plan. 

    For: (7)D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, E. Friesen, W. Pilat, C. Blackburn, C. Thiessen, and K. O’Toole
    Absent (1)Y. Minhas
    CARRIED (7 to 0)

    Bylaw C-1407 was read for the first time.


  • MOVED byW. Pilat

    Council give second reading to Bylaw C-1407.

    For: (7)D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, E. Friesen, W. Pilat, C. Blackburn, C. Thiessen, and K. O’Toole
    Absent (1)Y. Minhas
    CARRIED (7 to 0)

    Bylaw C-1407 was read for the second time.


  • MOVED byW. Pilat

    Council have third reading of Bylaw C-1407 at this meeting.

    For: (7)D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, E. Friesen, W. Pilat, C. Blackburn, C. Thiessen, and K. O’Toole
    Absent (1)Y. Minhas
    CARRIED (7 to 0)
  • MOVED byW. Pilat

    Council give third reading to Bylaw C-1407, being the Avondale High School Sites Area Redevelopment Plan.

    For: (7)D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, E. Friesen, W. Pilat, C. Blackburn, C. Thiessen, and K. O’Toole
    Absent (1)Y. Minhas
    CARRIED (7 to 0)

    Bylaw C-1407 was read for the third time and finally passed.


  • MOVED byD. Bressey

    Council direct Administration bring forward for Council or Committee consideration, capital needs to action the area redevelopment plan for short and medium term concepts.

    For: (2)D. Bressey, and E. Friesen
    Opposed: (5)Mayor J. Clayton, W. Pilat, C. Blackburn, C. Thiessen, and K. O’Toole
    Absent (1)Y. Minhas
    DEFEATED (2 to 5)

Councillor O'Toole attended a Community Futures meeting as well as the Shell Livewire awards event, which awarded funding to many community businesses to help them enhance the services they provide to the community. The Combative Sports Commission held a meeting remotely; discussion included the opportunity to begin training for coaches, judges and officials in order to support future events. The Alberta Bilingual Association is preparing a tourism campaign for this summer highlighting indigenous communities and their activities planned for this year. Quebec City has pulled out of the Francophone & Francophile association due to financial hardship; support for the association is needed.

Councillor Bressey attended the Grande Prairie Sport Connection meeting and the Sports Excellence Awards virtual event, which Telus Optic is showcasing. A Regional Recreation Committee board meeting was held last week to discuss the High-Performance Sports Centre; it was determined there was no interest in regional funding for this project. The Swan City Football Association project was also discussed and focused on the potential to locate in the County Sportsplex. 

Councillor Friesen attended the GP Library Board meeting and discussion focused on sponsorship of items for the Library such as Chromebooks and Wi-Fi smart hubs. The program is very important and will continue to operate for people such as students and low income residents. The Grande Prairie library operates on one of the lowest budgets in the province and services one of the highest volumes of users. 3D printing will be available at the library beginning April 6. Councillor Friesen attended the Northwest Alberta Sports Excellence awards, the Neighbourhood Association Forum, an AHS Community Conversation regarding COVID, the Regional Economic Development Summit, and the International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination event. 

Councillor Thiessen attended a CABH meeting last week where there was a presentation of the Housing First review and results of the Point-In-Time count. Over 10 years of the Housing First program resulted in over 650 uses by youth of this program. The Point-In-Time Count was last done in 2018, and is scheduled to take place on April 20 this year. Homelessness has declined since November, from 177 down to 148. Rapid Rehousing funds were initiated by CMHC; most  of these funds went to housing projects in larger cities.  Council Thiessen also attended the International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination event.

Councillor Pilat attended the Storm Hockey board meeting. Home games are now being televised, the 50/50 is going well, and they are developing some other marketing opportunities through social media. Councillor Pilat attended the Elected Officials course on service delivery remotely.

Mayor Clayton attended the Mid-sized Cities Mayors meeting, the Regional Recreation Committee, the Regional Economic Development Conversations, the City of Wetaskiwin/County state of address, and brought greetings to the International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination event. 

The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned at 7:48 p.m.